Kaya Diet Plan - Best Even Seen

This is one of the finest diet plan I ever came across. The reason being this is specially prepared for smooth skin and long hair which everyone wants.

Another thing about this plan is it covers each one of us with sweet tooth by providing something sweet to eat after a meal and at the same time provides good nutrition which is essential for good skin and hair.

So try it out and share your experiences on the blog.

Morning
5 Almonds soaked overnight in Milk
or 2 Teaspoons of almond and walnut powder when you get up in the morning

Breakfast
A red cocktail (1 carrot, 1/2 beetroot, 2 tomatoes) minus alcohol of course!
Soy Milk. 
Hard Boiled Eggs. 3 times a week
Upma. Ideally prepared from Lapsi (Broken Wheat)
Large serving of Papaya or Watermelon

Lunch
Butter Milk (Chhas)
Sprouts Salad consisting of carrots, potato, lime juice (4 times in week)
Chapatis made with mixing soy flour.
Rice 2/3 times a week
Fish Grilled/Broiled 4 times a week
Greens. Palak. Methi. Green Peas. Plenty
One small Tilka Laddoo ( Sesame Seeds)

Dinner
Yogurt with few flax seeds
Salad added with groundnut powder, cucumber to stated above
Soup of fresh vegetables with multigrain bread
Daal made of Rajma, Black Eyed Peas (not the hip hop variety) once a week
Chicken 2/3 times a week
One Date (Khajoor)

In between if you feel hungry have plenty of Chhas and Water. Lots of it.

Healthy Weight

Many years back there was a program in Thane by the famous Dr Balaji Tambe. Topic being 'Health and Ayurveda' or something of the sort. Being a person with keen interest in such topics was there listening to wisdom of Ayurveda and practical experience of Tambe ji. When the event was nearly the end the Q & A session started.

The question picked by him was close to my heart and my ears became alert to his discourse. Dr said: First of all we do not believe in these height weight charts published by Western World, although, we all know that optimum weight is good to enjoy life. Now, what should be the optimum weight for an individual is open to discussion and research. Dr further clarified that according to his vast experience and knowledge of Ayurveda an Indian should preferably be within the safety zone of an ideal weight chart which are prepared by American insurance companies. However, we are a poor country and majority of urban as well as rural population gets balanced nutrition. Further, each individual and each family has certain bone and body structure which is impossible to change. Therefore, he concluded that lower weight below prescribed by charts may be dangerous, a 15 to 20% extra weight should be accepted as healthy normal, emphasizing this is very important for women who have additional responsibilities in life. He explained beautifully and asked the audience: Do we keep some money in Fixed Deposit for rainy day? Same way our body also needs some resources to fight the diseases during crisis.

After that I bought book by Dr Shubhangini Joshi on 'Nutrition' which is text book for University students and also took up this topic with various scholars and friends who are experts in this field and the answers were similar. Also, friend gifted me a copy of Rujuta Devekar's book, too.

If we look back 50 years or so this fad for dieting and slim figure did not exist in India. We were so poor that most of us were standing in ration queues to get our minimum quota of wheat and rice. So majority of the population looked malnourished and with my frame of 6' 1" I had weight of 65 kg or so throughout my adult life till I crossed 55. When I visited Dr Anjali Mukherjee for check up they told that my weight should be 75 kg and they had plan for me to increase my weight. Using commonsense never opted for plan but in next five years my weight automatically reached 75 kg and remains in that zone till today. Going up during festival times and coming back to normal later.

My grand mother used to say this story which I heard again on Television through Dr Mrunal Pandey later. Those days the weddings were postponed if the bride was not 'healthy' enough. Because those days of joint family the bride had to milk the cows and cook meals for 50 or more persons and lift heavy vessels etc. Today the situation is exactly reverse.

The question is where this all stupid game started of dieting and slim figure? After the world war in US and after liberalization in India, people became wealthy. The industry is always inventing new ways and means to take that extra cash away from you. So the advertising industry invented this new theory that slim is beautiful. They used every trick in the book and money poured in to tell us that you are inferior and helpless and not attractive unless you are slim. Any basic student of psychology or observer of human behavior will recognize that any weak minded person can go in to depression under this attack.

You must have observed starting 1994-95 suddenly all Indian girls became beautiful and started winning global contests starting with Sushmita and Aishwarya as if our ladies were not beautiful earlier. The beauty industry today looking so prosperous and all global brands reaching even Tier II cities the strategy (conspiracy) of global players was designed 15 years ago in London, Paris and New York. We, Indians are fools who succumbed to it.

Coming to those stupid weight charts, have we ever asked a simple question: Who prepared it? My research shows that an American insurance company called Metlife conducted a long time research checking death records of U S over many years and they found that persons with certain height weight ratio lived longer. How may years longer? No answers. Were they happy? No answers. Were they alcoholics, Vegetarians, Smokers? No Answers. Such is the stupid way insurance companies work and we never ask relevant questions. Next time you visit your Doctor or Gym raise this query and see the response.

I am a guy who always looks for a solution once I figure out the problem and the pattern. Yes, few of us are overweight and would prefer to shed a few kg and feel better. The solution comes from my friend and Ayurvedic Dr Alhad Paranjape. He says: While reducing weight it is important to reduce junk food (means cooked outside home) rather than home cooked meals. He says you can eat as much as you like of your home preparation and rarely put on weight. So our enemy is outside our home. By controlling this we can reduce weight as well as save some money. His solution is as follows:

We are tempted to enjoy Wada Paav or Paav Bhaji or Pizza or any other street food. He says the simple trick is to eat these things with your Lunch or Dinner. He say it works. I have tried it and it works wonderfully. He gives example of a Gujju Thali Meal which includes Farsan items but they go along with your entire meal so do not add to extra fat. So eat only home cooked meals and carry home cooked meals wherever possible.

Next, we need to take a walk of 60 minutes per day to keep fit. You know how to do it. No comments.

Another simple exercise to manage healthy weight to write what  you eat. Before going to bed record what you consumed today from morning till now. With mobile phone at your disposal, it is very easy. Three weeks of notes keeping and your will see significant improvement.

Another exercise is eat slowly and only when hungry.Here I am reminded of an exercise which I had done during the E-lab conducted by the famous Swami Sukhabodhananda. The exercise was simple. You take each morsel of food and look at it loving and appreciate it as a foodie and thanking God put in your mouth. Till you have properly enjoyed, masticated and swallowed the first morsel you will touch the food. This is slow eating and it may take three times more time to consume your normal meals. Although bit difficult to practice for a person who is rushed for time, it is possible to do this at least during Dinner. At least during weekends may be?

Finally, to conclude  most of our Indian diet changes from region to region and it has evolved over thousands of years and good for us. If we carefully observe that our ancestors have designed even menu's for each festival and they are spread out over 12 months. Our years starts with Makar Sankranti to Padwa to Holi to Shravan and Ganesha and Navaratri and Diwali and Tulasi Vivah and now Christmas and New Year. So just eat anything and everything you like and keep little extra weight like Vidya Balan or Ram Kapoor and feel good about your self and laugh at those stupid persons who have such low self esteem and inferiority complex and are under peer pressure.

Do let me know your comments.

Change is Impossible!!!

Today I am going to write on subject of Change. The Post title says: 'Change is Impossible' which primarily goes against my life thought process and philosophy, so read on. At least you may be provoked to read further.

My qualification to write on this topic is that not only I am a student of this subject for may years but I have taught a full course on 'Change Management' at post graduate level too.

Few years ago Vodafone entered India by acquiring business from Hutch and they created a huge roadblock on Television forcing us to sing 'Change is Good' for few weeks and to an extent irritated us. It was a good catch phrase to ensure that new name got embedded in our hard disk for sure.

I have observed my grand parents for nearly 30 years and then Father for nearly 30 years and mother close to 60 years and you can count my other relatives and working colleagues and now the students too. My observation is nobody changes till he dies. This includes me.

Our scriptures and modern psychologists like Martin E P Seligman and Scientist Charles Darwin confirm that we inherit nearly 50% of our mind, body and intelligence which can not change. The problem is remaining 50% is nothing but our response to a situation and circumstances. The process of evolution and adaptation which Darwin advocates and our culture confirms takes centuries. The dress we wear and technology we use may change but basic human being remains practically unchanged.

Research confirms that during therapy and drug treatment there is a temporary relief to the patient however it wears off when the treatment stops. When compared to placebo effect the temporary change in patient's behavior may be only 10% to 20% max. 

To make it easy for all to understand, let's avoid jargon. When we are born we inherit a RCC structure with height, width and length which is our mind, body and intelligence and this is 50% which we can not change at all. Then what is in our hand it how to use this structure. For example, shall I use this structure for residential purpose or commercial purpose or a mix of both is up to us. What kind of interior we wish to do and external paint and tiling we wish is up to us.

So the solution to this issue is to accept. We need to accept that nearly 99% is pre-programmed. Our hardware as well as software is bundled together and we need to accept it with a smiling face. Next is to figure out what we can not change and what areas we can adapt and modify our behavior. Making oneself aware of these facts and making choices in life is the solution. Then, be patient and wait till he discovers his/her choices.

Unfortunately, the commercial world does not accept this and they spend millions of dollars in training and development to change people. In our personal life too, we spend our time to change people whom we love and adore. The solution is to make the person aware of areas where a person can make choices and adapt to make his life better, happier and wealthier.

If we remember the child hood 'Chandamama' stories of Vikram and Vetaal where it says that: Destiny is unchangeable. ( Vidhilikhit Atal Aahe in Marathi). So bottom line is that New Year is just few weeks away, with this new insight just relax and enjoy. The nature or God or whatever name you wish give has programmed your life journey entirely. Just get up in the morning and do your work to the best of ability and everything is going to be fine.

What say!

Being Alone. Driver for Personal Growth.

'Not much fun driving back home alone, when you also stay alone, after a late night show of Talaash...'...This was the status posted by one of my friends on the Facebook few days ago. The word 'alone' struck me somewhere and I started ruminating and pondering over it.

Yes, Indeed! It is difficult to be alone. 

But before we proceed further we need to separate being alone from lonely the only. Being alone is not necessarily being lonely although it may be your choice at the moment. 

This brought back my memories of 1977 as a 24 year old guy alone in Chandrapur. Chandrapur is a district HQ in Vidarbha region of Maharashtra. Then it was a godforsaken village and have no idea what the situation there is today. The topic today is about being Alone, rather than about Chandrapur and what the hell I was doing there , a person born and brought up in Bombay.

I remembered one recent incident where a teenage girl having all the room to herself was upset with idea that her brother will be back for a week's holiday and she has to share her room with him. All of us want and need our space and at the same time all we were taught from primary school to the post graduate level says that humans are social animals and we have a strong desire to belong to an individual or a team or a larger group or family. This is a paradox. We need privacy and we need to belong to a group and feel good about getting a sense of belonging.

What is the explanation or conclusion?

Our ancient scriptures to modern psychology solves this mystery. Both, the need for privacy or Me time and need for a sense of belonging exist is us simultaneously. It is just like being happy and sorrowful at the same time. To share a practical example, you can see the scene when a girl gets married and says good bye to her family. The entire family including the bride are happy for her and at the same time they are crying because they will be missing her everyday like they enjoyed her presence till today.

The solution is to accept that 'Alone' time is very essential for personal growth. A fresh graduate leaving his home for a job and staying alone is an great opportunity to utilize this time and space efficiently and productively.

Recalling my days in Chandrapur being alone, I remember spending time reading some good books, reflecting on my career till then, opportunities in future. Thinking about mistakes and writing letters to friends and family back home in Thane etc. This alone time was also utilized to learn how to meet different people and quickly establish working relationships and learning from them. The few years spent alone were worthwhile, looking back.

However, recently while talking to many guys with alone time at disposal, got different responses. Times have changed. They said is boring. Everybody said they looked forward to the weekend and when the weekend finally arrived they did not know what to do and waited for Monday to start the work. Most of them were either planning a movie or brunch and evening with medicine from Dr Vijay Mallya. The reason is your so called 'Me Time' does not provide you a structure. When with family, the family forces a bit of structure but in Alone Time without any structure and nobody to direct you the Mind tends to go haywire. 

Let me clarify before going further that I am not against brunch, movies or alcohol. This is fine to take care of your basic needs and satisfy lower needs. The higher needs like personal growth need some kind of discipline to get up at a particular time and then some physical activity like brisk walk or going to Temple or Church and meeting people over brunch. Any task which will challenge your skill and intelligence like Crossword or Sudoku. Playing a Dart game or visiting Bowling Alley which gives you some feedback. Even reading a good book and writing a blog can be great idea for consider.

To conclude, it is all about allocation. Just like in managing our Money. Here Time is Money and how we utilize this great resource finally decides our future. Monitor time available to you and keep some kind of note how it is being utilized. Your success entirely depends on your ability to allocate certain amount of time for higher needs.

A recent study has confirmed that students who allocate few hours each week for academic studies cut off from Television and phones (landline and mobile) are mostly found in 90+ percentile. No surprises for this discovery which is commonsense and our ancestors knew just be curious observation.